The budget tequila brand Cazadores is not one we’d normally peg as releasing a cristalino (aka filtered anejo) bottling, but here we are all the same. This cristalino is aged for two years in barrel before being filtered back to clear. Naturally, this bottling also comes at a reasonable price.

Let’s give it a whirl.

The tequila definitely smells young. There’s a punch of agave here that one rarely sees in anejo bottlings, with a sharp edge of lime peel and an earthy quality underneath. Despite a mild aroma of vanilla and butterscotch evident, I would not have been shocked if you had told me this was a blanco tequila, based on the nose. The palate’s a somewhat different story, moderate with caramel and vanilla, moving from there to coconut cream and lemon curd. More citrus is evident on the finish, again filtered through some milky/creamy elements.

It’s approachable and enjoyable enough, but while it’s an interesting enough cristalino, it doesn’t really raise the bar for the style.

80 proof.

B+ / $40 / cazadores.com 

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